Range finder and bow sight device

ABSTRACT

A range finder and bow sight device wherein plural sights are made adjustable and correlated with a fixed, stepped range finder. The individual bow sights used are adjustable both for height and azimuth, and in a preferred form of the invention, can be locked through such adjustment to a vertical slide member. Mounts on the device are self-aligning and can be screwed or taped to a conventional archery bow.

United States Patent [1 1 3,696,517 Larson [4 1 Oct. 10, 1972 [54] RANGEFINDER AND BOW SIGHT FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS DEVICE 1,50511/1915 Great Britain ..33/64 B Primary Examiner-Leonard FormanAssistant Examiner-Steven L. Stephan Attorney-M. Ralph Shaffer [5 7]ABSTRACT A range finder and bow sight device wherein plural sights aremade adjustable and correlated with a fixed, stepped range finder. Theindividual bow sights used are adjustable both for height and azimuth,and in a preferred form of the invention, can be locked through suchadjustment to a vertical slide member.

Mounts on the device are self-aligning and can be screwed or taped to aconventional archery how.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDDBI 10 I972 FIG.8

I N VENTOR MARLOW W. LARSON H IS ATTORNEY RANGE FINDER AND BOW SIGHTDEVICE The present invention relates to range finder and bow sightdevices and, more particularly, to a new and improved device of the typedescribed wherein plural sights, adjustable as to both heighth andazimuth, are correlated with respective sections of the range findersuch that when one determines the range of the particular object such asa deer, this by looking through the range finder, he may immediatelyselect the correlated sight to be used in aiming his arrow toward theobject being sighted.

In the present invention the device incorporates a range finder portionhaving stepped, horizontal, rnutually spaced bars the distances betweenwhich subtend an angle, from the observers eye there-toward, so thatwhen an object such as the chest cavity of a deer fills the spacebetween a particular set of bars the hunter knows that the associatedindex of the range finder spells the distance of the object, such as adeer, from the hunter.

Sighting in the bow involves use of the range finder such that at agiven distance from the target, corresponding to a given index on therange finder, the

user can adjust both vertically and sideways the several sightingmechanisms provided the device. These sighting mechanisms include screwshaving sighting beads on their respective end extremities. The screwsare threaded through and are adjustably contained in slide boss mountsand are provided with locking means to fix not only the sighting bead ina chosen azimuth position but also the boss mount to a vertical slide ata particular heighth level. As to sighting, the same is accomplished forall of the mounting bosses and their associated sighting beads, this forthe entire range of distance readings of the range finder.

Means are supplied the device for either accommodating screw attachmentthereof to a bow or for providing tape attachment, as desired.Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide anew and improved range finder and sighting device for bows.

A further object is to provide a range finder and sighting device which,by its construction, can be mounted to almost any type of bow either byscrews or by tape, for example.

A further object of the invention is to provide a range finder andsighting device wherein the range finder distance indexes are correlatedwith individual ones of plural sighting means, the latter beingadjustable both for heighth and azimuth and bead positioning inaccordance with the requirements of the user.

An additional object is to provide a range finder and bow sightingdevice wherein individual sights thereof can be locked as to verticalposition and azimuth in a simple and convenient manner, this byinexpensively produced structure.

A further object of the device is to provide for a bow a range finderdevice such that the cross bars thereof are light-receptive, this to beclearly visible even during periods of low illumination.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a archery bow incorporating the rangefinder and sighting device of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, exploded as to mounts, of the range finderand sighting device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side view of a central portion ofthe bow of FIG. 1, is reversed 180, and illustrates the manner in whichtape can be employed to secure the mounts of the device to the bow.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross section taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;in this figure is shown the condition of a boss mount before thetightening down thereof to fix the heighth of such boss along its slide.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 it illustrates the device as being lockeddown so as to preclude movement of the mounting boss of the associatedsighting means and of its sighting screw either vertically orhorizontally.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, rear elevation of the bow when used by theviewer, this to illustrate the manner of employment of the range finderto ascertain the distance at which an object such as a deer is beingsighted.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, illustrating that once the range of thehunted object has been ascertained, then the object may be zeroed in bythe corresponding bead being sighted preparatory to arrow release.

In FIG. 1 the bow 10 is strung with a conventional bow string 11. Bow 10includes the conventional handle grip 12, arrow guide way 13, andthickened upper portion 14. Mounted to upper portion 14 is the rangefinder and sighting device 15 of the present invention. Device 15includes an upper range finder portion 16 taking the form of a frame 17provided with cross bars 18. Cross bars 18 are preferably fabricatedfrom nylon of a clear, colorless type and are glued or otherwise securedin place in aligned notches 19, by way of example. A clear nylon ispreferred for the cross bars 18 since such tends to absorb light andbecome visible even during periods of very low illumination, as in earlymorning or late evening hours.

Disposed between cross bars 18 are respective distance indices 20indicating distances such as 2060 yards as between the object beingsighted and the observer. The spacings between cross bars 18 for thecorresponding distances are preferably so chosen that the chest cavityof a deer or other animal to be hunted just fills the space as relatesto the angle subtended by adjacent cross bars relative to the observerssighting eye. See FIG. 7. Accordingly, the upper space is filled when adeer of average size appears 20 yards from the observer. The spaceassociated with the cross bars relating to the marking 30 in FIG. 2 isjust filled by the chest cavity of a deer of average size when such deeris 30 yards from the observer holding the bow.

Depending from the frame 17 is an elongate slide support 21 havinginwardly tapered opposite sides 22 and 23. Such opposite sides areillustrated with more particularity in FIGS. 5 and 6. A base 24 may alsobe supplied, which base will be made integral with an elongate slidesupport 21, by way of example.

106001 nn-n Slidably mounted upon elongate slide support 21 are plural,resilient, inwardly compressible, plastic slide boss mounts 25 havingdistance indicia 20 corresponding to range indicia 20. Each of these aredetailed in FIGS. and 6 and, as shown, include a threaded bore 26 and anundercut slot 27. An interior transverse slot 28 is also provided andaccommodates the squeezing together of portions 29 and 30 of the slideboss mount when locking nut 31 of FIG. 5 is turned down to the positionshown in FIG. 6. Note is to be made that the locking nut 31 threadedlyengages the threaded shaft of sighting screw 32. The latter incorporatesa respective sighting bead 33 at its leftward extremity, see FIG. 2 andalso FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate that the slide boss mount 25 for a particularyardage, e.l.g. 20-50 yards, may be slid up and down elongate slidesupport 21 to the exact position needed relative to heighth of the same.

Furthermore, during the sighting in procedure at the target range, notonly can exact height be determined and set by the sighting screw andlocking nut combination, but, in addition, when the locking nut isunlocked in the position shown in FIG. 5, then the sighting screw 32 canbe rotated clockwise or counterclockwise about its own axis so thatthere is correct azimuth positioning of sighting bead 33 of thatrespective screw. Subsequently the nut 31 will be tightened down againstmount 25.

The above procedure will be followed for accurately positioning, bothvertically and for azimuth, the sighting screw beads of the severalsighting screws in correspondence with the various distances enumeratedin range finder portion 16.

As to mounting to the bow, the range finder portion 16 will be providedwith a pair of mounting brackets 34 each of which include mounting ears35 and 36, a base 37, and upstanding pivot ears 38 and 39. The latterare provided with counter-sunk apertures 40 and 41 for receiving arespective pivot screw 42. Pivot screw 42 proceeds through pivot boss43, and its upper counterpart, not shown in FIG. 2, so as to provide apivotal connection as between the mounting bracket 34 and its respectivepivot boss or ear 43. The mountings cars 35 and 36 may be taped to thebow as by tape T in FIG. 3, or the same way be provided with mountingscrews 45 and 46 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In usage, the archer is supplied with a range finder and sighting devicefor his bow 10. The range finder and sighting device 15 may betemporarily fitted to the bow, as by tape T in FIG. 3, for a preliminarydetermination as to approximately correct fitting. The device may simpleremain taped to the bow or, if desired screws 45 and 46 may be suppliedto secure the device to the bow. It is noted that the device can befitted to almost any conceivable type of how because of the pivot mountsassociated with mounting brackets 34 and their pivotal connection torespective ears 43.

In properly adjusting the device the user will stand back, say, yardsfrom a given target approximating in heighth the average dimension ofthe chest cavity of a deer, by way of example. At 20 yards the spacebetween the upper cross bars 18 of the range finder portion 16 of thedevice will just be filled. At this point the corresponding slide bossmount is adjusted vertically along the elongate slide support 21 suchthat,

after repeated shooting through trial and error, the associated bead 33of the upper screw 32 is exactly placed both as to height and azimuth.At this point the associated locking nut 31 is turned down against themount so as to compress the portions 29 and 30 together and against theopposite sides 22 and 23 of elongate slide support 21. This operationlocks this particular slide boss mount to the slide support and, hence,the sighting mechanism is accurately positioned for this particulardistance i.e. 20 yards.

A corresponding procedure is followed for each of the next enumerateddistances, 30-60 yards, relative to range finder portion 16 andremaining slide boss mounts 25 so that, correspondingly, the beads 33 ofthe remaining sighting screws can be fixed from the point of view ofboth heighth and azimuth. Again, this is accomplished simultaneously byunlocking the locking nut 31, then moving the slide boss mount up anddown to the proper position and screwing the sighting screwappropriately so that the proper point disposition of bead 33 isachieved. Again, exact positioning is determined through trial and errorafter several arrow releases. Adjustments will vary depending upon thestrength of the bow, stance of the user, and so forth.

In hunting, the object such as a deer being sought is first sighted andcentered between those two cross bars 18 of the range finder portion atwhich the chest cavity just fills the distance between these two crossbars. See FIG. 17. At this point the user knows the approximate distanceof the deer from the bow. He then selects the appropriate head, ofcorresponding distance 20', of the sighting screw relative to this sameyardage distance, see F IG. 8, and releases his arrow toward the target.

What is provided therefore is a new and improved device, readily andconveniently attachable to target and hunting bows, herein the rangefinding operation and sighting function are accomplished by use of asingle device. MOre specifically, a series of bead-providing sightingscrews are incorporated in the design and are correlated with the rangefinder of the device such that an ascertainment of the distance of asighted object from the observer, as determined by the range finder, isutilized to select the appropriate sighting screw for that distance suchthat the appropriate bead may be zeroed in on the target in an accuratemanner.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in theappended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A range-finder, bow-sight device including, in combination, arange-finder portion having a mul tiplicity of fixedly disposedhorizontal crossbar's adjacent ones of which define respective,separated, lighttransmissive viewing spaces of respective, uniqueheights, said range finder portion including respective identifyingindicia means for respectively identifying said spaces as to rangesrepresented thereby as when a target of given height, when viewed by auser, visibly fills exactly a respective, determined one of said spaceswhen said target is at a range corresponding to that of the indiciameans of the space through which said target is viewed; a bow-sightportion comprising a depending, elongate support, and a plurality ofsighting means for respectively sighting targets at respective rangesestablished by said range-finder portion as identified by said indiciameans, slideably mounted upon said elongate support and adjustablysecured thereto; and means for mounting said device to a bow such thatsaid rangefinder portion is laterally offset relative to said bow, forviewing purposes, saidrange-finder portion being constructed to be sooffset, and wherein respective ones of said sighting means individuallycomprise a boss mount having a transverse interior slit and beingslideably disposed upon said elongate support, and sighting screw meansfor releasably locking said boss mount to said elongate support andcomprising a sight-tipped sighting screw threadedly disposed throughsaid boss mount, through said interior slit, and nut means threaded uponsaid sighting screw for locking said sighting screw in place such thatthe sight thereof is disposed at a desired azimuth.

2. A range-finder, bow-sight device including, in combination, arange-finder portion having a multiplicity of fixedly disposed,horizontal crossbars adjacent ones of which define respective,separated, lighttransmissive viewing spaces of respective, uniqueheights, said range finder portion including respective identifyingindicia means for respectively identifying said spaces as to rangesrepresented thereby as when a target of given height, when viewed by auser, visibly fills exactly a respective, determined one of said spaceswhen said target is at a range corresponding to that of the indiciameans of the space through which said target is viewed; a bow-sightportion comprising a depending, elongate support, and a plurality ofsighting means for respectively sighting targets at respective rangesestablished by said range-finder portion as identified by said indiciameans, slideably mounted upon said elongate support and adjustablysecured thereto; and means for mounting said device to a bow such thatsaid rangefinder portion is laterally offset relative to said bow, forviewing purposes, said range-finder portion being constructed to be sooffset, and wherein respective ones of said sighting means individuallycomprise a boss mount having a transverse interior slit and beingslideably disposed upon said elongate support, and sighting screw meansfor releasably locking said boss mount to said elongate support andcomprising a sight-tipped sighting screw threadedly disposed throughsaid boss mount, through said interior slit, and nut means threaded uponsaid sighting screw for locking said sighting screw in place such thatthe sight thereof is disposed at a desired azimuth, and wherein each ofsaid sighting means includes an undercut slot, said elongate supportbeing correspondingly configured for retentively receiving said sightingmeans at their undercut slot as aforesaid.

1. A range-finder, bow-sight device including, in combination, arange-finder portion having a multiplicity of fixedly disposedhorizontal crossbars adjacent ones of which define respective,separated, light-transmissive viewing spaces of respective, uniqueheights, said range finder portion including respective identifyingindicia means for respectively identifying said spaces as to rangesrepresented thereby as when a target of given height, when viewed by auser, visibly fills exactly a respective, determined one of said spaceswhen said target is at a range corresponding to that of the indiciameans of the space through which said target is viewed; a bow-sightportion comprising a depending, elongate support, and a plurality ofsighting means for respectively sighting targets at respective rangesestablished by said range-finder portion as identified by said indiciameans, slideably mounted upon said elongate support and adjustablysecured thereto; and means for mounting said device to a bow such thatsaid range-finder portion is laterally offset relative to said bow, forviewing purposes, said rangefinder portion being constructed to be sooffset, and wherein respective ones of said sighting means individuallycomprise a boss mount having a transverse interior slit and beingslideably disposed upon said elongate support, and sighting screw meansfor releasably locking said boss mount to said elongate support andcomprising a sight-tipped sighting screw threadedly disposed throughsaid boss mount, through said interior slit, and nut means threaded uponsaid sighting screw for locking said sighting screw in place such thatthe sight thereof is disposed at a desired azimuth.
 2. A range-finder,bow-sight device including, in combination, a range-finder portionhaving a multiplicity of fixedly disposed, horizontal crossbars adjacentones of which define respective, separated, light-transmissive viewingspaces of respective, unique heights, said range finder portionincluding respective identifying indicia means for respectivelyidentifying said spaces as to ranges represented thereby as when atarget of given height, when viewed by a user, visibly fillS exactly arespective, determined one of said spaces when said target is at a rangecorresponding to that of the indicia means of the space through whichsaid target is viewed; a bow-sight portion comprising a depending,elongate support, and a plurality of sighting means for respectivelysighting targets at respective ranges established by said range-finderportion as identified by said indicia means, slideably mounted upon saidelongate support and adjustably secured thereto; and means for mountingsaid device to a bow such that said range-finder portion is laterallyoffset relative to said bow, for viewing purposes, said range-finderportion being constructed to be so offset, and wherein respective onesof said sighting means individually comprise a boss mount having atransverse interior slit and being slideably disposed upon said elongatesupport, and sighting screw means for releasably locking said boss mountto said elongate support and comprising a sight-tipped sighting screwthreadedly disposed through said boss mount, through said interior slit,and nut means threaded upon said sighting screw for locking saidsighting screw in place such that the sight thereof is disposed at adesired azimuth, and wherein each of said sighting means includes anundercut slot, said elongate support being correspondingly configuredfor retentively receiving said sighting means at their undercut slot asaforesaid.